I obtained my CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation over 20 years ago, and have completely enjoyed working with Buyers coming into Denver, and also those Sellers that SADLY are transferring out of Denver.     Each year I am blessed to have a few! Over the years, I have done outdoorsy videos of attractions that the residents seem to enjoy, and have had Buyers contact me and want to live near those attractions.  A big one is Aurora Reservoir, where you have lots of water activities, a sand beach, a picnic area, but also 8 miles of trails to bike or run.    Denver is very outdoorsy, and has lots to do with our many days of sunshine!     Having a need to nurture, I love working with Relocation buyers from out of state, out of the country, or even out of the City.    Usually, a... 07/15/2022

It is so nice to have a company that will come out and inspect your roof FOR FREE!   When you get ready to list a home, you want to be sure you have all the major components of the home in good condition and not be surprised with unexpected repairs. Roof Brokers work with several roofing companies, and after inspection will send the homeowner three bids if there are repairs needed. By calling Roof Brokers first, you don't have to worry about a claim being filed with your insurance company until you know you need them.   I personally have recommended them to my clients for years, and have always been quick to get out, especially when you have deadlines. It has now been a couple of years without severe hail damage to our roofs! 07/14/2022

  Listing and buying a home for ourselves can complicate our lives for sure!    Trying to get our own stuff done and keeping our business thriving can be a challenge. I think the best lesson I have learned, is what we put our clients through each time we list a home.    From telling them all their STUFF has to be put away, making daily duties difficult.   Where did we put that????  That is a common question.   I know my jewelry went in the car, and every time I get dressed I have to remember to go to the car! My master bedroom is a dark dungeon, which I have to have to sleep every night, (and still don't....), but needed to remember to open every single blind in the home.    There are usually things I leave out, but needed to put away each and every day ..... just in case there is a sho... 07/07/2022

 We just closed on our first home and wondering how much we should put aside each year for home maintenance or upgrades each year? So glad you are thinking ahead, as you do need to keep up home maintenance to keep your home in good condition.    This can depend heavily on the age of your home!~ Have furnace and A/C cleaned and serviced~ Blow out your sprinklers in the fall and possible replacement of sprinkler heads~ Exterior paint and caulking - usually every 5 years~ Change the batteries in the smoke alarms & CO detector, and change out smoke alarms every 10 years (there are smoke alarms now that last for 10 years without changing batteries)~ Seal granite countertops every year~ Carpet every 8-10 years (depending on how it is maintained)~ Wood flooring can use screening and sealing ev... 07/06/2022

The Denver real estate market has slowed a bit, but with some properties, buyers are having to make quick decisions with other offers coming in.    When homes are priced well, in great condition, and in a great location, you will see multiple offers. It is imperative to call the listing agent to not only find out if there are other offers, but what the Seller prefers for possession, and to verify what will convey.   With more listings that have come on the market over the last few months, we are seeing fewer multiple offers.   There are times you "hear" about another offer, but is there?   This past weekend the listing agent said they had one offer and over listing price.    This morning, the home remains active.   My Buyer liked the home but wasn't completely SOLD on it.    When Buyers... 07/05/2022

Over the last couple of years, Denver has seen a frenzied market, with Sellers definitely "driving the bus".    The prices have skyrocketed, and buyers are still trying to secure their Dream Home. Many of my buyers ask when it says AS-IS in the MLS, what does that mean for them?    USUALLY, that means the Seller will do NOTHING when it comes to repairs/replacements.    What you see, is what you get!    BUT, I have had buyers write a very good offer (over list price) and get some things done.     Many times this has everything to do with how the listing agent does business.   Sometimes it is a hard-headed Seller.     If a Buyer writes a good offer over list price and has an appraisal gap included with the offer, there could be a chance if it is important, you may get something fixed by t... 07/01/2022

It has been a tough playoff, and both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche have played hard for this trophy.We in Denver were HOPING to win the Stanley Cup Friday night but wasn't in the cards. so had to wait for tonight. SOOOO cool to watch the players enjoy the hoopla of raising the cup and the group photo of the Avalanche team!   From the time the puck dropped, it was A GAME!   Not either of the teams was complacent, they were all OVER IT!   Tampa Bay got the first goal, but Avs didn't lay low, they kept playing HARD!   There will be a parade for our team on Thursday 9 am downtown!   Come show your support! So proud of our team --- CONGRATULATIONS COLORADO AVALANCHE! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COLORADO AVALANCHE! 06/26/2022

A Luxury Home can be identified differently in cities across the country, but in Denver, my Luxury blog posts will report on detached single-family homes listed in the Denver metro area for over $1.3 million.  (Over the years I have used $1 million as luxury, but with our rising home values, had the need to increase this amount.)  Some have mountain and/or city views, and some properties back to a golf course, or have water views all to compliment one's lifestyle.  (however, we don't have much water)  Some are updated with products from around the world, and some have expansive square footage or acreage.     Whatever a Buyer is looking for, most likely if you have over $1 million, you can find it in Denver or in the surrounding suburbs.     Here is how the luxury market fared for the mo... 06/23/2022

With home buyers searching the Internet for their home, these listings are plastered all over many websites.      They are searching for certain specific criteria in their Dream Home in the neighborhoods of their choice. If the listing has erroneous information in the listing, or criteria left off that could possibly sell the listing you just lost buyers.    This week I found two condo listings with over 2 acres....thinking that was an oversight.      Taking as many photos as possible to show off the new listing is critical.   In Denver, we can have up to 40 photos, and why not take advantage of this!    Some smaller properties may not have as many photos, so use the neighborhood or community amenities, like the pool and tennis courts.     How many times do we see dark photos of rooms o... 06/22/2022

With many homeowners preferring not to move, but to stay put and enjoy the pile of equity they currently have, they have thought about remodeling instead.    But, where do you put your hard-earned money, so it will help you if you should sell down the road? A kitchen is always a great place to spend some dollars.~ Update the appliances~ Change out laminate counters to granite or quartz.   (we are seeing concrete and stainless steel too in some areas)~ Change out lower end flooring to tile or hardwood flooring~ Sink & faucet - if you have chips in the sink or the faucet has seen better days, time to change it out.~ If you have old fluorescent lighting, time to change it out.    Can lighting and some accent pendant lights are nice.If you replace old cabinetry, that will definitely be an u... 06/21/2022

Buyers get stuck in a rut when they are focusing on a small area for their new home.    I know you LOVE that neighborhood, but there are a few others that are similar, with the same school district you may enjoy. I had one Buyer earlier this year that actually gave up and stopped looking when NOT ONE house came up in the neighborhood they wanted.    I tried and tried to get them to look at another that had a community pool that they said was important, and the school district was the same.  But, no way. That is where we come into play --- we CAN think out of the box a bit, maybe not have as many "must haves" in the criteria.    Some things can be changed once you are in your new home.   Location and layout, not so much.   Those granite counters can be added later, and so can the hardwoo... 06/20/2022

The 2nd game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs was last night, and BOY, our boys --- The Colorado Avalanche showed up and played like they wanted to WIN! I did not know the Tampa Bay Lightning had won the Cup for the last two years, but many said they were "on fire".    Well, I watched all the playoff games the Avs played, and they too seemed "on fire".   In fact, they swept the Edmonton Oilers 4-0 for the Western Conference.   They are playing REALLY well.   Like a well-oiled team that has played for years together. The first two games were here in Denver, and just MAYBE Tampa Bay had a hard time breathing?    We do have thin air here in Denver!     We shall see, as Game 3 and 4 will be held in Tampa this coming week. We won Game 2, hands down, and ALMOST felt sorry for the fans of Tampa Bay.  06/19/2022

 Buyers coming into Denver, or buying their first property always have this question.   Most people have at least one pet, so this is a fair question.   In the Denver metro area, almost all condo buildings accept pets.   Some have a size restriction, some limit pets to two in a condo, and there are a few that do not allow pets of any kind.    In each listing, it will state if there are pet restrictions, so you don't fall in love, then find out there are restrictions.  In some condos downtown, there are areas on a certain floor, so you can take the pup for a walk, but must clean up after them. Looking for a condo in Denver - check out these listings for sale.   06/17/2022

The stats are out for the month of May, and the numbers revolve around the increase in interest rates.    With the increase it priced out a few first-time buyers, and some buyers opted out when they couldn't get what they wanted.   This slowed the market, but not drastically.   The inventory rose 13% for the month of May.   In the first quarter, we saw a high of around 2,000 listings, April's high hit 3,200 for one weekend, and May saw a high of 4,292.   It is almost mid-June and has hit 5,200. This data is courtesy of Joan Cox - House to Home, Inc. I track data daily for the Denver metro area and are seeing around 1,464 price reductions (30%) every week and around 300 homes returning to the market in a week's period of time.   Both of these numbers have been steadily increasing. See wh... 06/14/2022

Buyers looking for a new home are looking for a safe environment.   Buyers are encouraged to consider these items to assist them in making a good decision.SafetyAs REALTORS, we are not allowed to discuss this topic, but there are many sights online with crime stats, as well as calling the local police to understand what has happened around the home they are considering.    Buyers can also check these sights for pedophiles (Megan's Law) in the area.AmenitiesWhat are you looking for in a neighborhood as far as amenities?   Would you like a pool, tennis court, playgrounds, common area, etc.?    These items are searchable fields and can locate neighborhoods with these features.    It is good to drive by these amenities and check the condition and ensure they are being maintained.Location Do... 06/11/2022

This weekend has lots going on in and around the Denver metro area --- Parker Days FestivalPARKER — “Colorado's Hometown Festival” is back for three days of shows, carnival rides, food and more. Located on Mainstreet, the 45th annual Parker Days is loaded with festival booths, face painting, a silent disco, inflatable activities, music, crafts, axe throwing, buskers, and carnival rides. The free festival runs Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 12. See the festival schedule at ParkerDaysFestival.com.Carnival on the PlazaAURORA — The City of Aurora is hosting the 2nd annual Carnival on the Plaza event on Saturday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fletcher Plaza, 9800 East Colfax Ave. Carnival on the Plaza is a free event with carnival games, ring toss, skee-ball, face painting, balloon tw... 06/09/2022

  It is that time of year once again when we see afternoon storms pass over Denver almost every afternoon.   Some areas are spared, and some are hit hard with rain and/or hail.   Yesterday there were even tornado warnings around Colorado Springs. Lightning was plentiful, even if there wasn't much rain.   According to the experts, lightning rarely will strike someone directly.   The lightning usually hits another source, like a tree, and then is transferred to a person under the tree.    You are safe in a car, and in a home.  However, if lightning hits a home, stay away from the plumbing, that can transfer also.   This is a good reason to keep your trees trimmed so they are not touching your home. We are ranked 19th in the Country for the number of lightning flashes that hit the ground, ... 06/09/2022

All bids for the Denver Bronco football enterprise were to be received by 3 pm on Monday, and there were several bids received.It does look like the Walton Family may win the bid, and all new prospective owners were requesting Peyton Manning's participation with the team.When this sale is completed, it will be the highest sale of a football team - as the offer received is for $4.5 BILLION. 06/08/2022

Can you walk into a new development and buy a home, of course.    Will it be an easy way to buy a home?    May or may not be, read on!The sales representative will be very helpful in answering all of your questions and concerns - but they work for the BUILDER!    Who is protecting your best interests? ~ Buying a brand new home is exciting.  The ability to choose your favorite floor plan, and personalize your interior decor by selecting the colors, options, and features that suit your needs and wants can be a satisfying experience that enhances your enjoyment of living in a beautiful new space you designed.~Buying a home is a complex process and is probably the most expensive transaction an individual will ever make.   All home transactions have serious financial obligations that you'll ... 06/07/2022

First, we are in desperate need of lifeguards this summer in Denver!   City of Denver has pushed back the opening of pools due to lack of staffing, and now will open June 13th.   This will allow more time to get more certified as lifeguards.One place that is not mentioned below is:  Water World - 8801 N. Pecos St., which is now open.   If you have questions - here are the FAQs.So far, here is the status around town:ArvadaApex Park and Recreation District will open two outdoor pools and a splash pad but will not open the Lake Arbor Outdoor Pool this summer.The Fitzmorris Outdoor Pool will now be open seven days per week. > Find Arvada pool schedules at APEXPRD.org. Aurora All six City of Aurora outdoor pools will be open this summer beginning Saturday, May 28. Pools will be open on a lim... 05/29/2022